‘Coalition politics hindrance for new land law’

Ghagholi: Citing the compulsions of coalition politics in early passage of the Land Acquisition Bill, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Friday promised that the bill when finally passed will be in favor of farmers.

Rahul was talking to farmers about impediments in the passing of the new land law in view of objections raised by Trinamool Congress (TMC), even though he did not mention either TMC or Mamta Bannerjee.
"When we propose draft law and ask our coalition partners if it was fine, they say it does not suit us in Bengal. This law does not look fine. You have to change it," Rahul said.

While hearing the grievances of farmers assembled in this village along the Yamuna Expressway, Rahul said, "We have a coalition government at the Centre in Delhi. There are a number of partners. We have to hold discussions with them; we are talking to our partners. We will bring a good law; we are trying our best to pass it in the next session of Lok Sabha."

The Congress leader said, the National Advisory Council (NAC) and the government were both discussing the law. Counselling patience, he said, "It takes time to make a new law and the Centre is already working on it. If we make
the law in five minutes, it will be wrong. We wish to enact to a new law which can last for at least next 20 to 30 years."
Rahul said, "We have to find a solution to land acquisition and we can find that through dialogue alone. Don`t try to suppress people and their voices, you need to involve them, we think if you don`t involve the poor, it amounts to atrocities on them."

Asked why the Centre did not stop the Mayawati government from "forcibly" taking over their land, the Congress leader said, "You have to understand one thing straight, I do not run the UP government. I cannot help you in any way about it."

"When you talk about not getting power, I cannot give you that power. Ask your UP government about it. Talk to your government in Lucknow, not me." He said, "If you wish to pose such a question to me, you should first help elect a Congress government here. Then pose such a question."

Rahul went on to say that the Congress party runs the Central government and we will do our best to give you a "good new land law".

Rahul, who has been targeting Mayawati, accused her government of not properly utilising central funds earmarked for various schemes.

"The State government`s intention here does not seem to be good here. Even on the current land acquisition and the controversy over it, the intentions of the state government are under doubt. It seems the state wishes to help only one
person- the builders, not the farmers or those connected with the farm land," he said.

He, however, said, "If the Congress government comes to power in UP, it will be your government. It will not be the Congress government but the government of the people of Uttar Pradesh."